Tanbark Talks

Members of the global dairy industry are invited to start their mornings at World Dairy Expo with educational and insightful Tanbark Talks. This new opportunity to learn at Expo takes place in The Tanbark at 8 a.m. each morning. The schedule is still being confirmed, so check back to see who will speak on Tuesday and Saturday!

Wednesday, September 29
Farming Forward Through Enhanced Innovation and Farm Profitability 

One of the obvious lessons learned from the global pandemic is just how quickly the world, dairy farming, consumer needs and habits can shift. The U.S. dairy industry has not been immune to these changes and must adapt through a nimbler value chain to keep pace and assure a profitable and relevant future. 

Bob Johansen, from the Institute for the Future, will kick off the session sharing insights from his work with farmers, industry leaders and then dairy checkoff. After, a panel discussion will explore the “Opportunity Zones” of the checkoff-led Dairy Transformation work and will illustrate how the industry is creating pathways for tomorrow. DMI CEO Tom Gallagher and Dwyer Williams, Chief Transformation Officer, will lead the panel discussion of dairy farmers and industry leaders, including MilkPEP CEO Yin Rani.  

Thursday, September 30
U.S. Farm Report - LIVE

U.S. Farm Report host Tyne Morgan will host a one-hour session featuring a panel of experts, focused on markets, industry news and trends. Content captured during this session will be broadcast on the U.S. Farm Report, to air the weekend of October 2-3. This Tanbark Talk if your chance to experience a live taping of a national TV program and learn from some of the best in the business. 

Friday, October 1
This Business Called Agriculture, presented by Damian Mason

Imagine a talk show host combined with an agricultural economist with a healthy dose of comedian… that’s Damian Mason. He will deliver a crisp, current ag outlook and insights presentation in a humorous manner. Through his public speaking, the two podcasts he hosts and the several books he has authored, Mason strives to spread accurate information and dispel missinfomration about the world’s most important industry: Agriculture. 

Raised on a dairy farm, and still owning and managing a 300-acre farm and timber land, Mason holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. He has spoken to agricultural companies that cover every space on the table – from corn to cranberries, cotton to cattle, canned food to canola.